For a small business, being as efficient as you possibly can is crucial to making the most of the staff and resources at your disposal. No-code tools can help solve specific problems that you won't get from buying software off the shelf, and let those working in your team get on with the work that really matters. 

If you run or work for a small business, you'll know that bringing in any kind of new software can be hard work. You have to research the best options, consider the costs and weigh up the pros and cons of making changes to company processes. Then, you have to train your team up and get them actually using this new tool in the right way.

That can be a lot, particularly when you’re often simply looking to keep your head above water. Hence why plenty of small businesses simply stick with the clunky, outdated software and processes that they're used to. But that, in our view, is a mistake because no-code tools can make a huge difference in a number of ways. Plus, they're far more accessible and easy to pick up than you might first have thought.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the ways no-code tools are perfectly suited for small businesses like yours: 

1. Do more with your data

If you’re keeping all that critical customer information in documents and messy Excel spreadsheets, you really ought to reorganise. One big benefit of no-code tools is that they can drastically transform what you can do with your data. Tools like AirTable are essentially far more powerful and capable spreadsheets – allowing you to list, organize, track, annotate, and utilise information much more efficiently than before.

2. Help your team communicate

There’s a reason why Slack has become so damn popular. Email inboxes get clogged up fast, and are much harder to navigate when trying to find that essential information when you need it. No-code tools can offer a seamless way for team members to interact at the same time, in a comment thread, group chat, or while working on the same design file – instead of the endless slog of an email chain.

‍‍

3. Make use of your agility

Large organisations might have the luxury of buying expensive, complex pieces of software or building their own (although in many cases, no-code makes sense here too...) but small businesses definitely do not. And no matter what sector you're operating in, you need to make use of your agility and nimbleness. No-code tools are super flexible, allowing you to make changes quickly and adapt to changing requirements and demands. Any money that you save by bringing in no-code tools can be reinvested in the business too.

‍4. Save money

Here's the one you've been waiting for: saving cash. It’s easy to be wary of licensing fees when taking on new software – but the cost, and how you pay it, varies hugely depending on what you get. Anyone who’s done it will tell you that creating your own software from scratch is a lot of work – and takes a lot of cash. Developers are expensive, whether that's hiring them in-house or using an external team.

No-code tools are either free to use, come with a free trial to see if it works for you, or are offered on a monthly subscription basis for a much more reasonable fee. 

‍5. Solve specific pain points

You don’t want to end up paying for a complicated, feature-heavy piece of software that you hardly use. Unfortunately, many small businesses do just that – opting for pricey, bloated software packed with functions they’ll never need. As a small business you’re likely to have more specific needs. No-code tools are much more geared towards simple, targeted functions that are easily repeatable. You’ll be able to solve specific pain points in your business. 

6. Simplify how you gather customer info

One of those simple functions that no-code tools really excel in is getting critical information from customers. Whether it’s asking customers to fill in their data, onboarding them onto a platform, or even getting them to sign up for a mailing list, no-code tools can offer a secure, standardised function for those specific purposes. That frees up the time of employees in your team for work that's far more creative and valuable.

7. Open up new revenue streams

No-code tools are ideal for digitising aspects of your business to reach a different, wider audience. Particularly through creating mobile apps or web apps, you can basically reach more people in more ways. Maybe, for example, you're a brick-and-mortar coffee shop looking to set up an online shop to sell your stuff online. There are no-code tools that can quickly allow you to create an online store with a few clicks, or even a bespoke mobile app for your business. Opportunity abounds.